Why Coke and Pepsi think dirty soda is a win for restaurants

Consumer demand for premium, customizable beverages is pushing soda makers to add everything from fruit to flavored soft serve ice cream to sodas.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 12, 2025

Wendy’s wants good experiences to drive frequency as consumers pull back spending

Customer satisfaction for orders placed through employees and made digitally were each up significantly year over year, but it wasn’t enough to offset a negative quarter.

By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 12, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Menu development

Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

How KFC’s Potato Wedge LTO ties into its comeback strategy

The chain said consumer demand pushed it to revive the side after a five-year hiatus and bring back Hot & Spicy wings, as well.  

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 11, 2025

McDonald’s brings back McDonaldland to unlock consumers’ ‘core memories’

The fast food chain’s latest nostalgic campaign features Ronald McDonald and friends for the first time in more than 20 years.

By Chris Kelly • Updated Aug. 11, 2025

Wendy’s adopts McDonald’s chicken tender playbook, boosts beverages

After an unfocused promotional calendar failed to boost sales, CEO Ken Cook said cold brew with cold foam and sparkling energy drinks will play a key role for the brand.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 8, 2025

Jack in the Box posts worst sales quarter in years

The burger brand shed traffic and closed stores. Del Taco did too. Now, executives are banking on real estate sales and reimages at 1,000 stores to strengthen the company.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 7, 2025

How Applebee’s turned traffic positive

New entrees and value plays helped the chain hit positive same-store sales for the first time in years, while dual-branding with IHOP promises longer-term positive results.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 7, 2025

Yum Brands turns to AI to aggregate social media, third-party reviews

The Byte system of AI technologies is helping power advanced Voice of the Customer tools while improving the drive-thru experience, executives said on a Q2 2025 earnings call.

By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 6, 2025

McDonald’s chicken, loyalty and value end same-store sales slump

A strong combination of value offerings, LTOs and new menu items drove sales growth in the U.S. for Q2, executives said.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 6, 2025

How Domino’s new ads hit at fast food burger chains in fight over value

New spots visualize how a slice of pizza stacks up to a similarly priced slice of a burger to boost a long-standing deal and reach value-focused consumers.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 4, 2025

4 takeaways from Starbucks’ customer experience plans

The company is laying the foundations to make Starbucks “once again the gold standard in customer service” and is planning to revamp its loyalty program next year, CEO Brian Niccol said.

By Bryan Wassel • July 31, 2025

Starbucks teases protein drinks, new food

After simplifying its menu, the coffee giant will focus on experiential beverages, artisanal foods and non-coffee drinks.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 30, 2025

How McDonald’s dug into nostalgia and reignited the chicken wars

The return of the chain’s Snack Wrap has spurred competitors including Popeyes and Taco Bell to launch and advertise around similar offerings.

By Chris Kelly • July 30, 2025

How Yum Brands predicts the ‘it’ beverage of the future

The company is turning to data science and prediction markets as consumer demand for beverages creates opportunities for new dayparts and concepts.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 30, 2025

Why BJ’s CEO is betting on menu innovation to revive the brand

Starting with its pizza, the chain is updating ingredients and flavors to boost guest satisfaction, which has waned in recent years.

By Julie Littman • July 28, 2025

KFC US hires chief growth officer

Tiffany Furman joins the chain from The Habit Burger & Grill, where she helped oversee the brand’s transformation after its acquisition by Yum.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 25, 2025

McDonald’s to test premium drinks in 500 stores

After winding down CosMc’s, McDonald’s will start testing drinks inspired by the spinoff in 500 stores across Wisconsin and Colorado in September.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 24, 2025

Want a great quick-service restaurant experience? Keep it fast and efficient

Customers are happier with human-led ordering at the counter or the drive-thru than they are with using kiosks, according to a Qualtrics Instant Insights survey.

By Bryan Wassel • July 23, 2025

How diversifying drinks can create new restaurant dayparts

Consumer interest in value, healthier options and novelty is driving demand for higher margin beverages and new occasions.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 21, 2025

Caribou adds Lemonade Refreshers to permanent menu

The coffee chain is expanding its lineup of cold, non-coffee beverages as the refresher category takes off across brands.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 17, 2025

Popeyes unveils Signature Sauce, Chicken Dippers

The sauce is served in rounded cups, rather than the chain’s standard rectangular containers, a move resembling Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken’s sauce strategy.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 14, 2025

Casual, not careless: The art of relaxed dining design

If casual brands don’t invest in the contemporary, experiential offerings diners crave, they could eventually risk ceding traffic to fast casual competitors.

By Amanda Schuster • July 14, 2025

Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience

Manufacturers are working with their restaurant customers to improve takeout, as well as sustainability opportunities for food service ware.

By Shefali Kapadia • July 9, 2025

Beverage trends: The forces shaping the coffee sector in 2025

Small coffee chains are looking to experiential coffee occasions to outcompete major chains, but they’re not abandoning menu innovation.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 1, 2025

It’s the summer of chicken for QSRs

Chains including Culver’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell hope to attract customers with new poultry lineups this season.

By Julie Littman • June 24, 2025